Automatic-feeding self-adjusting pecan cracker



H. E. PAOLUCCI. AUIOMATIC FEEDING SELF ADJUSTING PECAN CRACKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY19, 192|.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

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H. E. PAOLUCCI.

AUTOMATIC FEEDING SELF ADJUSTING PEOAN CRACKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19| |921.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

8 SHEETS-:SHEET 2.

H. E. PALuccl.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

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QW nu ,Unk HH iim APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 192|.

AUTOMATIC FEEDING SELF ADJUSTING PECAN CRACKER.

H. E'. PAoL'uccl.

AUTOMATC FEEDING SELF ADJUSTING PECAN CRACKER.

APPucATloN mio um 19. 1921.

1 ,424,675. Patentd Ang. 1, 1922.

a SHEETS-8Min 4.

92 31a/vento@ H. E. PAOLUCCI.

AUTOMATIC FEEDING SELF ADJUSTING PECAN CRACKER.

APPLICATION -'ILED MAY 19| 192|.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

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H. E. PAOLUCCI.

AUTOMATIC FEEUING SELF ADJUSTiNG PECAN CRACKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY19| 192|.

, Patnted Aug. `1,

la cc L' H. E. PAOLUCCI.

AUTOMATIC FEEDING SELF ADJUSTING PECAN CRACKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIQ. 192|.

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HENRY n. rAoLUcoi, casan ANTONIO, Texas.

AUTOMATIG-FEEDDIG SELF-ADJUSTING PECN CRAGKER, l

Application led May 19,

To all 'whom 'it may concewi:

Be it known that I, Henny E. 'PAoLUCon a subject of the KingA of Italy,residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic- FeedinSelf-Adjusting Pecan Crackers; and I co hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and 'exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same. u

This invention relates to new and useful l improvements in nut crackingmachines especially constructed to crack pecans and similar nuts and hasfor its primary obyect the provision of means for automaticallyl placingnuts one at a time between cracking,

elements and to eject the cracked nut just prior to placing another nutin position to be cracked.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means whereby nutsregardless of their length will each receive 'the same amount ofpressure to crack them, thereby obviatiiig the danger of cracking some'nuts too much and not cracking other nuts enough.

A 'tui-ther object oi? this invention is the provision ot means whereby`the pressure or cracking action on the nuts may be va# iied as desired.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a nut cracker,which will he easy to operate and also may be manuallyr operated or by asmall ypower source.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a nut crackingmachine of the above stated character, which isextremely light and maybe fastened to a table or other support, and which shall -be simple,durable and efficient, and which may be manufae tured and sold at acomparatively low cost.

W ith these and other objects in view as will become more apparent astl1e-description proceeds, the invention consists in cer- Speeilcaton otLetters Patent hereinafter Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

1 921. serial No, 470,754.

tain novel features of construction, combina? tion, and arrangement ofiparts as will be more full-y described and claimed.A

For u. complete understanding of my invention, reference is-to be had tothe follow- 'ing description and `accompanying drawinUs, 1n :which :f-

A -igure .1 1s a. side elevation illustrating a nut cracking machineconstructed in accordance Awith my invention,

Figure 2 -is a similar view illustrating the other side of the device,

Figure 3 is-avtop plan view illustrating the device, l t Figure 4 4isatransverse sectional view taken on the line of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentaryrend view illustrating means for opera-.tingthedevice,

Figure v(i is a transverse sectional view, taken on the -line 6-6 of-Figure 3,

Figure ff` is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, illustratingr thenut cracking members, l

Figure 8 is a fragments plan View partly in section illustrating ltlienut cracl'- ing members withva nut. positioned therebetween and heldthere by the feed wheel,

Figure 9V isan end view illustrating oneof 'the crackinfr members,

lfigiire 15.15 a similar view illustrating the other cracking member, l

Figure 1l isa perspective view illustratino' the feed wheel,

lliigure 12 is a similar view illustratinga transferring table,

Figure 13 is asimilar view illustrating a dumping table .or trough,

Figure 14 is afragmentarysectional view illustrating -a rooved pulley orwheel for operating the eed wheel in a step by step movement,

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view partly in section illustrating a `art ofthe means for imparting to the'end ess feed chain a step by step motion,

Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one of the nutcracking minbers 7 f c i re 1 is a ragmentary erspec iveviewgillustrating the machine with the various arts in nut crackingposition.

Re erring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l indicates anelongated base detachably secured to a table or supplort 2 by means ofbrackets 3. The base 1 as `our naled thereto an operating shaft 4 an thelatter is located in close proximity t9 one of the ends of the base andadjacent; the upper edge'of thelatter and is provided with a crank 5 atone end and an operating handle 6 at its other end. When 1t is desiredto operate this device by a motor or other power source, the handle 6 isremoved and a Gear or the like substituted in lieu thereof. 5lheoperating shaft 4 has secured thereto an eccentric 7 located on anopposite side to the base 1 from the crank 5 and is engaged by a plungerA8. The plunger' 8 is slidably mounted in a guide 9 secured to the base1 Vand has formed on its forward'end a nut cracking member 10, while itsopposite end rides against the eccentric 7. The nut cracking element 10is adapted to reciprocate in a horizontal plane owin to the mounting ofthe plunger 8 within t e. guide 9. Located in advance of the nutcrackingelement or member 10 is a nut cracking member 11 securedto anarm 12 which is pivoted' to the base 1 as illustrated at 13. The arm 12has pivoted thereto a rod 14 which is in turn pivoted to a deiressingmember 15 as illustrated at 16. he member 15 is pivoted to the base 1 asshown at 17 and has its free end reduce'd'to ,forma bill 18 and anarcuate face 19.v `A catch 20 consisting of a block 2l is pivoted to thebase as shown at 22 and has pivoted thereto a transversely extendingcatch member 23 which projects beyond opposite sides of the block 21 andis provided with a long end and a short end and the short end isprovided with a concaved portion 24 adapted to be engaved by theconcaved or arcuate face 19 of c de pressinfr member 15 on the pivotalmovement o the arm 12 toelevate the long end of the catch member 23 andthe u per edge of the latter is sharpened or bevelbd to engage any oneof a series of .teeth 25 formed on a locking plate 26. The locking plate26 is carried by an arm 27 which is in turn secured to and movable withthe plunger 8. The block 21 has secured thereto a coil spring 218 whichis in turn secured to the base for the purpose of normally urging theblock into its initial position and with the lug 29 formed on said blockinto engagement with an adjusting screw 30. The adjusting screw 30 ismounted in a bracket 31 carried by thc base 1 and is adapted to adjustthe inclination of the block and the locution of the catch member 23 inrespect to the reduced end of bill portion 18 of the depressin member15. The arm 12 to swing forwardly of the base 1 or away from theeccentric or cam 7 by a spring 32 which is anchored to a bracket 33carried b the base. The plunger 8 has its rear en normally urged intoengagement with the cam or eccentric 7 b a spring Bre-secured'to the arm27 and to t e base.

An arm 35 is pivoted to the base as shown at 36 and is equi a shoulder37 a apted to engage the for ward end of the nut cracking element 11 andsaid arm 35 also has pivoted theretol a rod 38 which is in turn plvotedtoa lever 39 that rides u on the cam or eccentric 'l' at a diametricallyopposite point from the plunger 8 and is pivotedto the base as shown at40. It the nut crackin element 11 will be moved in a rearward ection ortowards the cp erating shaft 4 by the Vmovement of the cam or eccentric7 and moved in a forward direction by the spring 32 when the low side oft-he cam or eccentric is next to the lever is normally urge 'l willtherefore be seen that ped at its upper end with f 3.9. A spring 41 of acomparatively low .ten-` sion 1s connected to the Aupper end ofthe arm35 andto the bracket 33 for the purpose of. holdin the lever 39 intoengagement with the perip ery of the camor eccentric 7 at all times undalso to aid in moving the arm 35 on its ivot in a forward direction whenpermitte to move in said directionlby the cam or eccentric. l

A table supporting bracket 42 is secured to the base 1 adjacent to thefnut cracking elements or members 10 and 11V and is pro vided .with anintegral arm 43 that extends upwardly and laterally therefrom to supporta table 44 constructed of steel or any other flexible material. Thetable 44 is arranged between the nut cracking members 10 and 11 and isinclined from one side edge towards its other side edge andhas itsforward end disposed in a plane slightly hirfhcr than the. rear edge orthe end located jacentV to the nut cracking member 11 so that on theforward movement of the nut cracking-element lO, the same rifles overthe table and depresses the elevated end into a plane with the loweredge of the nut cracking element 11. A roller 45 is located along thehighest side edge of the table 4:4 and is supported by a spring arm 46and to the table Supporting bracket 42. The roller 45 is adapted toprevent a nut from being rolled offof the upper side edge of the tablebut when sufficient pressure has been placed on the nut and after thelatter has been cracked, the roller 45 may move downwardly to permit thecracked nut t0 be ejected o' of the table and the arm 46 returns theroller to its initial position as soon as the pressure is releasedthereon. A spring lSO 47 is secured to the table supporting bracket 42and has its end secured to the arm 46 for aiding in returning said armto its initial position after the compression and release of the roller45.

An upwardly inclined arm 4S is formed on the table supporting bracket 42and inclined in an opposite direction from the arm '43 and has hingedthereto an arcuate shaped nut transferring table 49 and the latter hassecured thereto a curved arm 50y which extends through an o ening 51 inthe arm 48 and upwardly and eyond the side edge of a board or shield 52arranged at the hinged end of the transfcr'rin table 49. A coil spring53 is secured to te erm 50 and to the support 42 for the purposeof-holding and returning the transferring initial position ready toreceive a nut. The arm 50 extends beyond the guard or board 52 and hasserrations 54 adapted to be en- Gaged by the paddles 55 of a feed wheel56 tduring the rotation of the latter So as to impart a vibratory motionto the transferring table thereby causing anyshells that may fall on thetransferring table to fall therefrom and keep the latter m a cleancondition. The free edge of the transferring table 49 is di osed in aplane above the lower edge of t e table 44 but is adapted to move inalinement with the latter .on the rotation of the feed wheel 56 so thatthe addles 55 may wipe a nut from the transerrina table onto the table44. The rotation et the feed wheel 56 is in a ste by step motion andwhen one of the padd es 55 engages the transferring table, the same isdepressed, and movedln ahnement with the table 44 thereby permitting anut to be readily rolled on to the table 44. The transerring table 49 assoon as disengaged from one of the paddles, the same returns to itsinitial osition b the inuence of the spring 53, anc the pad le that hasjust disengaged the transferring table cooperates with the roller 45 inretaining the nuton the table Will. One edge of each of the paddles 55is curved as illustrated at 57 so as to permit the nut cracking member10 to slide over the table 44 without any danger of catching on the edgeof the paddle. `rIhe feed wheell 56 consists of a plurality of radiallyextending arms 58 to which resilient arms 59 are secured. The resilientarms project beyond the arms 58 which are rigid and support the paddles55 and are adapted to permit the paddles to be flexed in relation to thearms 58. The feed wheel 56 is secured to a shaft 60 journaled inbearings 61 carried by the base 1 and has journaled on lts end a rllsohas secured thereto a disk 63 provided with notches 64.- adapted to beengaged by a spring pressed pawl 65 carried b v the pnlley 62. Thenotched disk 63 and the paivl table 49 to itsl standard ofi-cored pulley62. Said end of the shaft 60 65 are adapted to establish a drivingconnection in one direction between the pulley 62 and the shaft 60. Acable 66 is trained over the grooved `pulleyV 62 and has one end passedover a pulley 67 journaled to the hase 1 and said end of the cable isconnected to a coil spring 68. The coil spring 68 is in turn connectedto a bracket 69 carried by the basel and is adapted to permit the cableto move in one direction when the other end of said cable is pulled andis also adapted to return the cable to its initial position. The lastnamed eud of the cable is connected to axlever 70 pivoted to an .upright71 carried by the base 1 so that on movement of the lever 70 in onedirection a pull is made u on the cable causing rotation of the feed weel throu h the notched disk 63 and the awl 65 an also tensions thespring 68.

he spring 68 is adapted to pull the cable 66 in a reverse direction whenthe lover 70 is permitted to move and said movement of the cable rotatesthe grooved pulley 62 and the paw] 65 ratchets over the notched disk 63,t ie shaft 60 being held against rotation by a awl and ratchet mechanism72, conseuent y prevents a reverse of the feed wheel. he lever 70 haspivoted thereto a` notched rod 73 adapted to` have vertical and lateralsliding movement in a guide 74 carried by the upright 71. The notch 75ofthe rod 73 is engaged by the crank 5 onthe rotation of the operatingshaft 4 to cause said rod 73 to move upwardly and this movement rocksthe arm 70 on its pivot pulling upon the cable to cause the feed wheelte make a one- ?uarter turn. This onedquarter turn of the eed wheel issuicient to carry a nut upon the transferring table onto the tablelocated between the nut cracking elements. When the crank has turnedpart way around. the same becomes disengaged from the notch 75 of thelever 73 permitting the .spring 68 to returnthe arm 70 to its initialposition and to rotate the pulley 62 in a reverse direction and allowthe paw] 65 to obtain another grip on the notched disk 63.

A lio per 76 is supported adjacent to the forwar end of the base or theend of the latter opposite to the cud where the operat.-

ing shaft is located and said hopper is snpported by the buse 1 and alsoby a leg or 77. The bottom wall 7S of the hopper is pivotally mounted asillustrated at 79 and has secured thereto a. shoulder 80 adapted to'rideover teeth 81 of a bar 82. The bar S2 is slidably mounted on the base land has its forward end curved downwardly and connected toa bar 83 bymeans of a pin and slot connection 84. The bar 83 is slidablyr mountedin a guide 85 carried by the hase 1 and is connected by means of a pinand slot connection 86 to one end of a pivotally mounted arm S7. The arm87 is pivoted to the guide 85 and opsaid' plate.

d connected to the crank 5 of th .openings to receive the y 93 locatedat the -o )en en crates within e slot 88 formed in said guide and hasits other end disposed through e slot 89 of a plate 90. The arm 87 isprevented from becoming detached from the plate 90 hy a pin 91 and theplate 90 is pivotally 'connected -to a connecting rod 92. The plate 90is' provided with a. series of pivot which connects the connecting rodto said plate so as to erinit seid connecting rod to be adjus on Theconnecting rod is in turn pivotally e operating shaft 4 so that onrotation of the crank, 'the plate 90 will be moved forward by saidconnecti rodand after a slight movement of seid site 90 the arm 87 isrooked'upon its pivot causing a sliding movement of the 83. The. bar 83being connected to the bar 82 also causes the latter to move and amovement of said bar 82 causes the teeth 81 to vibra/te the bottom 78 ofthe hopper 76 through the shoulder 80. Said movementof the bottom wall78 of the hopper causes the nuts within the hopper to slide downwardlyand be cau ofthe hop `er and supported by the ase 1. The trougi 93 is ofsubstantially Usha e in cross section and an en' ess conveyor g4 has itsupper run located within said trough for the purpose of. carrying nutsthat fell thereon towards the transferring table 49. VThe conveyor 94 ismounted on s rocket wheels 9'5V carried by ,shafts 96;' y eV shafts 96are secured to thebnse. 1 A shoulder or dog '97 is se- ,curedto orformed onthe 4rod 83 and is ada. ted to engage within the links of theendiess conveyor so that on movement of said; bar 83 in one direction,the endless con veyor will be caused to move to carry the nuts towardsthe transferring table 49. A reverse movement of thebar 83 carries thcdog 97 with the same and owing to its curvature Vit becomes disen agedfrom the endless conveyor and obtains a fresh grip upon the latter toagain move the endless conveyoron the forward movement of the bur 83therefore it will be Seen that the endless conveyor is given e. ste bystep motion.

A lever 98 is pivoted) to a bracket 99 cnrried by the base 1 and saidlever has its lower en d connected to the bars 82 and 83 by the pin andslot connection 84 and the other end of said lever is connected to arack bar 100. The rack bar engages a ratchet wheel 101 and the lutter issecured bl to a controlling wheel 102. The controlling wheel 102 isjournaled to a sup ort 103 on the base 1- and is provided wit relativelyspaced teeth 104 adapted to project into the trough over the upper runof the endless conveyor. The ratchet wheel 101 is eugaged by a springpressed dog 105 for the purpose of preventing the controlling wheel htwithin a trough 102 from rotatinv in a reverse direction. The support103 is adjustably connected to the base so that the controlling wheelmay be raised and lowered for the purpose of permitting large andsmell'nutsV to pass under the same on the conveyor andgbetween the teeth'104. The rotation ling wheel 102 is in a. reverse direction from themovement of v.the vnuts with theconveyor and is adapted to preventthe'nuts from crowding or moving out ofthe trough too rapidly. l

The controlling wheel 102, is adapted to permit only -one nut to pass'out of? the trough at a time and as the nuts one lat e time leave thetrough Vthey are receivedby a dum-ping table 106 which is ofsubstantially U-sha e in cross section and hes one end hinge to theendof the trough and in a plane sli h'tly below the plane of the upper runof the endle conveyor. An arm 107r4 of substantially L-shape is securedto the diunping trough 106 and has a spring 108 secured thereto for thepurpose of holding seid dumping trough `in aposition to receive' thespringr 108 trough 93 und is adapted to` trough 106 to swing dovv'nvvarly when a force is applied upon the lutterl and to return the trough 106to its nut receiving position when said force is discontinued. A TheL-shuped arm 107 has one of itsarm portions curved to be engaged `by a'.vivoted memT ber 109 carried on an upturneld end 110 of the bar or rod82 `so t t on movement of the lutter in one direction', the dumpintrough is caused to swing downwardly an deposit a nut onto the 19. The-pivoted-mernber- 109 is spring-su ported so neto hold the saine incontact wild the curved portion of the I.shziped-urrnV 107. An arm 111is pivoted to a standard 112, on the base 1 and rests upon the curvedarm portion of the L-shaped arm 101 4und carries :it its free-end aguard 113 edupted to normally project into the dumping trough when thelutter is in its initial )osition to prevent u nut from passing entirelythrough snid dumping trough when reived from the endless conveyor. Theguard 113 is swung upwardly by the curved arm portion of the L-s'hapedarm 107 when the dumping trough 106 is swung downwardly, therebypermitt' the nut within the dumping trough to slide onto thetransferring ta- The nut cracking elements 10 and 11 have o posedconcuved faces 114 and sud faces algo have formed therein grooves 115.The nut cracking elements 10 and 11 also have oores 116 which extendthrough said crncking elements and the inner ends of the grooves 115communicate therewith, while the outer ends of said grooves open outiermit said of the control-` nuts from the conve 4oni-The is attached'to one si e of the transferring table Wardly through the peripheries ofsaid For convenience i cracking members. The periphery of the tion ofthis machin nut cracking member 10 has formed therein thereof are desigrooves 117 edaptedto receive guides 118 and to ive a c which projectbeyond the concavedface 114 sumed t at the of said nut cracking member10 and are beva nut is located in the dumping eled as illustrated at 119to engage a nut. The operator turns the actual'. The guides 118 aresecured to the nutcrackdirection indicated by the arr ing member 10 bybands or rings 120. The 1 and as soon as the crank 5 concaved faces 114of the nut cracking memfrom the position bers 10 and 11 are adapted toengage the eonnectmfr rod 92 ends'of a nut when saidV nut crackinormemend A o bers move towards each other and the ends same, the of thenuts are received by the bores .1.16 the plate and caused to break o'and also the grooves rocked 'on its 115 are adapted to cause the shell0f the rocked, the ro vnut to crack endwise in several places.

Theends of the shell of the nut are liable echoes in relation t tobecome lodged within the bores 116 after teins a fresh grip on thecracking of the nut and to remove such is also moved towar portions ofthe Shell` from the m11', Cracking machine and causes n vi members 10and 11, plungers 121 and 122 78 of the hopper are provided and theplunger 121 is pivoted latter to fall on to arm 35 and extends throughthe bore troudh b the teeth 8 of the not cracking element or member 11the elio der 80. The s While the plunger' 122 extends through 4the rod82 bore o1c the nut cracking member 10 and is 109 to provided with ulaterally extendinarin 123 the dumping troug tat on retherein, willslide on After a certain movemen when reach which is secured to the baseso ciprocation of the nut cracking member 10 49.

the plunger will be caused to e]ect any paring trough 106 or ticles ofshell that may be Within the bore 0f dumping said'membcr 10. The plunger121 projects disengnge beyond the concaved face 114 of the nut shapedcracking member 11 when the latter is ot turns toi rest andconseqlillently has ejected anyperthienccof the spring 108. ticles ofshell t at may have lodged within ment of the dumping the bore of saidmember 11. The plunger S ing position, Where the same forms onto the nutcrackingl arm 107 raises member 10 is provided with n slot to permitelevates the guard 11 the lateral arm 123 of the plunger 129r toslideffreoly from the extend therethrough and to permit recipro? thetransferrin cation of the plunger and also the nut craclxthe rods v82 aning member 10.

Weights 124 and 125 are disposed above pullthe rack the mit crackingmembers 10 and 11 and over A of the machine. the table 44 for the purJose of coo eruting 100 dur ller 45, tab e A14. in teeth o supporting anut in a position between the latter is held st opposing ends` of thenut cracking members raging the tectl 1l) and 11. T be weight 125 ispivot-ed to an LWith a nut now positie he crank has with the feed wheel,ro

nrnl -120 carried by the 'bearing which sup rino; table 49, t ports theplunger S while the weight 124 with the notch hinged o1' pivoted to thenut cracking memlntter upwardly ber 1 l. The weights 125 and '12% arelimited motion to the arm in their downward movement by the nut arm 70causes a pu cracking,r members 10 and 11 when the table direction and agis not supporting a nut or when supportspring 08 wheel 56 approximatelyoneso that one of th des over the serrati rate the transferring t tthereon to become propthe nut happen not to A further leo ing a crackednut.

The serra tions 54 engaged by the paddles revolution,

ration thereof. first ri of the transferring table 49, sufiicient to thearm 450 to vib cause a nut to properly position itself upon 49 and causethe nu said table when receivedA from the dumpmg orly po trough 106.fall on the of the feed wheel causes a slight vi own in Fig movestowards the front carrying with the late 90. A slight movement of 0 ishad before the arm 87 is ivot and o the arm 87 being moved towards therear dog 97 thereof o the conveyor and the latter. The rod 82 -the rearend B of the bration of the bottom e the nuts in the to the conveyorwithin the 1 moving in relation to ame movement of the d member and tilt6, so that the nut to the transferring table t of the dumping itsfullest the member 109 becomes e curved end ofthe L- ing trough reon bythe inthe movegli-106 into dumpd end ofthe L'sbapod and consequently 3to permit the nut to dumping trough onto 49. The movement of S3 towardsthe rear end B ses the lever 9S bn 100 towards the fro The teeth of therack bar ratchets over the heel 102` and the the pawl 105 enhet wheel101.

the transferbecome engaged of the rod 73 and raises the and rearwardlyto impart 70. The movement of the 1l on the cable 66 in one nst thetension of the cable 66 rotates the feed quarter of a addles 55 ons 54of able the machine,

end B of the mach causes the spring shove the L- hap 107 and the dump tsnut receiving positi the arm 111,

said movement, 1e controlling w ation aryV by 1 of the rate sitioned incase table 49 correctly.

n describing the operathe front and rear ends ted A and' B respectivelyear understandin it is asliopper is filled wit nuts and trough 106.lever in the ow in Figure starts to turn ure 2, the

je; 1,424,e75

movement of the feed wheel 56, the respecroller 45. The roller 45returnstoits initial tive paddle depresses the transferring tableposition bythe spring 47 as soon as the 49 into a osition to aline withthe table 44 cracked nut-is ejected. The lungerB moves to allow e nut tobe swept onto said table forwardly after the dat C o the 7 has 6 4:4land held thereon by thepaddle stopping moved beyond tbeend. of saidplunge- 70 at the inner edge of-said table 44. The nut consequentlyadvancing thc'nut cracl'n'n A y also is engaged by the roller 45 and themember l0 which moves the nut on the table weights 124and 125 so as tobe held in the 44 into engagement with the nut cracking pati of movementof the nutcracki memmember 11 and thelatter recedes `a short`l 10 bers10 and 11. vThe respective padlr Y having passed or become disen agedfrom swings the depending arm downwardly the transferring table 49, thela ter returns on its pivot. vSaid movementof ,the arm to its nutreceiving position by the sprin 53 15, elevates the long end ofthe catchmemto prevent any particles of shell from fa g ber 23 into engagementwith one ofthe 15 thereon during the'cracking of the nut and teeth 25 ofthe plate 26 and locks the nut 80 also be in a position to receive thenext nut cracking memberll against a further recedfrom the dumpingtrough '106. The rod 73 ing movement for a short length of time. islimited in its rearwardmovement by the Thev nut .cracking member 11 `newoffers 2 guide 74 so that the Ynotch 75 thereof soon the necessary'resistanceto theoneomngnut e now distance, causing a pull onthe rod14-` which, 75

l ccomes disengaged from the. crank and the and nutcracking member 10 sothat. the 85 rod returned to its. initial position by the innut will becracked. After the loo 'nl "eflfluence of thespring68.',to permitthecable66 the nut crac ng member 411 and a In" her. to move in areverse direction by the spring advancementof the nut cracking member 1068., The reversev movement ofl the cable the latch member 23 becomesdisengaged causes -the pawl-65 to obtain another ip from the Aplate 26and frees the nut cra'ok- 90 on the notched disk 63 and the feed whee 56ing member 11 to allow the same to recedeV remains stationary bythe pawland ratchet as the nut cracking member 10 advances, mechanism72.holding` the same. Thecrauk thereby preventing squashing or over 5having turned sullioient to' become disencracking of the nut as the nutcracking gaged from the rod 73, it now moves the conmember 10 must makeits full ystroke ow' v .nectingl rod 92 towards the rear end'B of the tothe cam 7 making a.V complete turn.y t machine causing a forwardmovement ofthe is to be understood tlat when the cracking y rods 83, and82and a rearward movement of member 11 is locked against recedingmovethe rack bar 100. The forward movement ment and the plate 2 6advancing with' the S6 of the rodV 82 a ain vibrates the bottom 78 nutcracking member 10 on the plunger 8, 100 of the hopper ST6 and alsopositions the the block 21 of the latch 20 swings on its springsupported member 109 as shown in pivot and` after ar certain pivotalmovement Iigure 2 to again be ready to actuate the thereof.. the latchmember 23 becomes disdumping trou h 106. The forward moveengagedfromthedepressinglarm 15 and the ment ofthe ro 83 advances the endlessconspring 20 pulls the tension member 23 105 veyor through the dog V97and causes another from 'an 'engagement with the teeth of the nut topass into the dum ing trou V1.06. plate 26 whic' allows the crackingmember The rearward movement o the rack r 100 11 to recede. After thehighest face of the` beingtsimultaneous with Vthe movement of cam 7passes the plunger V8 thelatterand the' conveyor, rotates thecontrolling wheel the nut crackinv member 1 move in a 1e 110 102 and theteeth 104 thereof permit onl versedirection y; the action of the springone nut to ass into the dum ing trough7 34 and arrive in their initialposition just while the ot er nuts that may c crowding prior to theoperating lever 6 arriving at itstowards the outlet ofthe trough arekicked mitial position.

60 back. The rota-tion of the controlling wheel During the crackin ofthe nut, the ends 115 102 is in a reverse direction from thc direcof theshell are cut o by the cuttin edges tion in which the conveyor moves.defined by the bores and concaved aces of The beginning of the rotationof the opthe cracking members 10 and 11 and the erating handle 6 doesnot effect the plunger shell of the nut is also caused to crack end- 8owing to the fiat C of the cam 7 being wise in several places by thecutting edges 120Y opposite thereto, so as to permit operation definedby the grooves 115. The ends of of the feeding mechanism to place thenut the shell become lodged in the bores 116 onto the table 44 and toeject the cracked and to eject the ends of the shells from nut therefromprior to the operation of the said bores, the plungers 121 and 122 areronut cracking members 10 and 11. It will vided. The plunger 122 beingrigidi 125 be` understood that the paddle of the feed mounted on thebase 1 does not move with wheel which is in advance of the paddle thatthe cracking member 10, but is ada. ted to is in the act of placing anut on the table protrude u slight distance beyond t e nut 44 ejects thecracked nut by raising the engaging face of said member 10 when theweights 124 and 125 and depressing the latter is at rest, so that anypieces of shell 13G E which may be in thebore will be ejected. The lever39 riding against the cam 7 causes the arm 37 with tli aid of the spring41 to recede with the cracking member 11 end when the latter becomes'locked to offer the necessary resistance against the nut to crack saidnut, the arm 35 continues to recede by the action of the cam and movesthe p unger 121 -therewith and when the cracking member 11 is releasedfor further receding movement it moves with the nut cracking member 10so that when the latter reaches its normal position, the nut crackingmember 11 also reaches its normal osition and the cam permits the returno the arm 35 and the plunger 121 then ejccts the end of the shell thatmay be lodged in the bore of said cracking member 11 by rotruding ashort distance beyond the en of the bore at the concaved end of saidcracking member 11. When the cracking member 10 returns to its initialposition, the cam 7 returns the cracking member 11 to itsinitialposition through the lever 39, rod 38 and the arm 35. The return of thecracking member 11 to its initial position elevates and returns thedepressing lever 15 to its initial position over the short end of thecatch member 23. By turning the adjusting screw 30, the position of theblock 21 of the catch 20 may be varied for the purpose of regulating theamount ol' resistance offered to the nut cracking member 11.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrewings, it will be seen that one complete revolution of the operatingshaft 4 by the opernting lever 6 will eject the. nut alreadyr cracked onthe table 44 and place another nut thereon and crack the same and beread)r to be ejected on the next revolution of the op- @rating shaft 4:.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction,combination and arrangement of parts may be made Without departing fromthe spirit and sc opc of the invention as claimed.

.Having thus described my invention what I cla-im is 1. A. nut crackingmachine comprisingr a base, nut supporting means on said base, a nutcracking member slidably mounted 4ou said base and adapted to moveacross the nut supporting means. a second nut cracking member pivoted tosaid base and located in the path oit' movement of the first `named nutcracking member and adapted to recede under tho influence of said firstnut cracking member, a catch carried b said base, a loc-.king platecarried by an movable with the first nut cracking member, and meansactuatcd by the receding movementof the second nut cracking member tomove the catch into engagement with the locking plate to base, a nut suporting means carried by said base, a elif ably mounted nut crackingAmember on said base, meansfor actuating said member, a second nutcracking member 4pivoted to said base and arranged within the path ofLmovement of the first named nut crackingmcmber and adapted to recedeunder the nuence of the first nut cracking member, a catch carried bysaid base, an arm secured to the first named nut cracking member, atoothed plate carried by said arm, and means affected by the reeednmovement of the second nut cracking mem er to actuate the catch intoengagement with the toothed plate to cause the second named nut crackingmember tooier resistance against the first named nut cracking membertocrack a nut on said nut supporting means.

3. A. nut cracking machine comprising a base, nut supporting` meanscarried by said base, a nut cracking member slidably moimted on saidbese, means for actuating said memberz a second nut cracking memberpivoted to sind base and arranged within the path of movement of thefirst named nut cracking member, a toothed plate secured to the firstnamed nut cracking member, e. block pivote-d to the base, a, latchmember pivoted to said block, tension means connected to said block,tension means connected to the block and to the latch member, and meansaffected by the receding movement of the second mentioned nut crackingmember to depress one end of the latch member and move its other endinto engagement with the toothed plate to lock the second named nutcracking member against receding move ment so that the same will offerresistance against the rstwnut cracking member to creek a nut on saidsupporting means,said toothed plate after a predetermined movementadapted to become disengagedfrom the latch member and free the secondnamed nut cracking member for further receding movement under the'influence of the iirst named nut cracking member.

4. A nut cracking machine comprising a base, nut supporting means cnsaid base, a nut cracking member slidably mounted on said base, meansfor actuating said member, a second nut cracking member pivoted to saidbase and arranged within the path of movement of the irst nut crackingmember and adapted to recede under the influence of said first mentionednut cracking member. a toothed plate secured to the first named nutcracking member, a block pivoted to said base. an adjusting means forsaid block. a tension means connected to said block.` a

latch member pivotcd to seid block, tension means lconnected to one endVof the latch member und. to the block, a depressing arm pivoted tosaidbase, anda Vrod pivotcd to said depressing arm and to the-secondnamed nut cracking member vto more the catch member into engagementwiththe toothed plate after a predetermined receding more ment; ofsaidsecond mentioned ynut cracking member to cause the latter to offerresistance against the rstfnut cracking member tov crack s. nut on said.nut supporting means.

5.A nut :cracking machine comprising a base, nut snuporting meanscarried by, said base, a slide. ber on said base, means for actuatingsaid member, a second nut cracking member pivoted to said base anderranged within the path of movement of the first named not crackingmember and adapted to recede under the influence of the latter, a springcontrolled catch carried by'said'base, means for regulating the catch, atoothedplate carried by the first named nut cracking member, adepressing arm piroted vto said base, a rod connected tothedepressingarm end to the second named nut cracking member to canse thecatch'to engage the toothed plate after a .predetermined recedingmovement of said second Inut cracking member to cause the same to offerresistance against the 4first named nut cracking member to crack a nut,said toothed pin-te adapted to move with the first mentioned mitcracking member and after a predetermined-time to become flisen agedfrom the catch end perniit the seconrgl named nut cracking member torecede under the iniuence of the Iiist named nut cracking member toprevent over cracking of the nut. y n 4 c i 6. A nut cracking machinecomprising u. base, means for supporting a nut on said base, n. nutcracking member shdably mounted on said base, a cam for actuatin saidmember, a'second nut crackino' memer pivoted to seidl base and adaptedto recede under the influence of the first namednut cracking member,means .for locking the second ceding movement fon u predetermined lengthof time, nut crackin faces'V carried by said nut crackingl mem er, saidnut cracking members having bores openingthrough seid faces, a. plungerrcarried by said bese and adapted. to eject pieces of nut shells fromthe bore of4 the first named nut cracking member when the latter is al:rest, a plunger in the. bore of the second named nut cracking member, anarm pivoted to said base, tension means connected to seid erm, meansconnecting said arm to the cam to cause said erm to recede with thesecond named nut crackin member and duringthe working stroke of t efirst named nut cracking member, seid second plunger adapted to 1ymounted nut cracking memi said arm and vadapted tox be retracted with inthe bore of the bore ci ment of sai arm and' when said second nutcracking member is locked against receding movement and adapted to`protrude beyon one end of the bore after the second named nut crackingmember has been freed from a locked position. I

7. A nutcracking machine comprising a. base, an operatin means carriedby said base, a nut supper ing table on said base, a transferring tablecarried by said base, means for feeding nuts one at a time from the hopEer to the transferring table and actuated y scid operatingmeans, andmeans actuated by the operating means for placing the nut onthetrnnsferring table onto the nut supporting tableand adapted to holdthe on the latter.

8. A` nut cracking machine comprising a base, an operating means carriedby said nut base, a nut sup orting table on seid base, n y

hopper, atrans erring table, means Vfor feed ingL nuts from thehopper tothe transferring ta le one at a, time, and means for placing the nut onthe transferring table onto the nut supporting table, and holding thenut on the latter during the cracking ofthe nut and adapted to eject thecracked nut from the nut supporting table after the nut has beencracked.V

9. A nut cracking machine comprising e. base, an operating means on saidbase, an inclined nut su portingr table on seid base, a hopper carriedby said base, a transferring` table carried by saidibase, means fordeposit- Ycl-ined nut sup orting tableon said bese, a named nut creckmgmember against 'rel (i) ioppcr carrie by said base, a pivotaily base,means actuated by the operating means to feed nuts one at n time fromthe hopper to the transferring table, a paddle Wheel journaled to saidbase, means for operating the paddle wheel in a step by step movementfrom the operating means to de ress the transferring table into a planewiti the nut supporting table and to transfer the nut from thetransferring table onto the nut supportmgtable and hold the nut on thenut supporting table during the cracking of the nut and to eject thecracked nut from the nut supporting table, and means for returning thetransferring table to a nut receiving position when disengaged from thefeed wheel.

naled to said base, means for imparting a feed w i essere @c 11. A mitcracking machine comprising a from-the nutsupportin table,.another.padbase, -an operati means carried by said die adaptedtc depressi.etransferring table base, a flexible an' inclined nut supporting into -aplane with the nut supporting table table carried by said base, a ho percarrie and to move the nut on the transfeiri table 5 by said base, atransferring tab e carried by onto the nut supporting table and ho dsaid 70 said base and capable of pivotal movement, nut onto 'the lastnamed table, an arm means actuated y' the operating means to formed onsaid transferring table 'and hav- :feed nuts one at a time from the hoper to ing 'serrations adapted to be engaged by tone. the transferringtable, a feed whee jourof the paddles during each movement of the A veel to vibrate the transferring table. 75 step by step motion to thefeed wheel from 14, A-iiutcracking machine comprisinga lthe operatingmeans, paddles carried by said. base, an operating means carried `bysaid .feed wheel, one of said paddles adapted to base, 'a nut supportinAtable carried by 'said depress the transferr'm table into a planebasega hopper carrie b `said base, a trough i5 with the supporting tab eand move the nut for said hopper an en ess conveyor in said so from thetransferring table onto the nut suptrough, a transferriii table carriedby said porting table and hold the nut on said nut base, means moving te conveyor inv a step supporting table, `another-of said paddles by stepmotion by the operating 4means to adapted lto eject a cracked nut fromthe nut carry nuts one at a time from the hopper supporting table duringthe movement, of to the transferri table, and means for mov- 85 anothermit from the transferring table onto ing the mit from t e transferringtable to the the nut supporting table, means for returiimit supportingtable and to eject a cracked ing the transferringtable4 to a nuti-eceiv- .nut from the mit supporting table.

` position after being disengaged from a I5. A nut cracking machinecomprising a pa dle. Vbase, an operating means ,carried b said 90 so apivot V 12. A nut cracking machine com rising base, a nut supportintable on sai base, a base, an operating means on sai base,aheppercarriedby sai base,atransferring an inclined nut -supportingtable on, table carried by said base, a dumping trough said base ahopper .carried by said base, between the transferring table andthehopally mounted transferring table per, means actuated by the operatingmeans 95 carried by said base, means actuated by to move nuts one at atime from the hop r the o erating means to feed nuts onc at a into thedumping trou h, means actuated y time om the hop er onto thetransferring the o erating means to tilt the dumping table, a feed wheecarried by said base, a troug i to permit the nut therein to fall ontoplurality of paddles carried by said feed the transferring table, andmeans actuat'edby 10o table on movement of the feed w wheel, means forim ai'tin a step by step the operating means to move the nut frommovement to the fee ivhee by the operatthe transferring table onto thenut sup orting means, one of said paddles adapted to ing table and boeject the cracked nut om eject a cracked nut from the su porting the nutsupporting table.

heel, an- 16. A nut cracking machine comprising a 105 other of saidpaddles adapted to depress the base, an operating means carried by saidtransferring table and movethe nut thereon base, a nut supportin tablecarried by said onto the nut supporting table and hold said base, ahopper carrie by said base, a trough nut onto said nut suportiiig table,and ten- 'in communication with the hopper, an endsion means forreturning the transferring less conveyor mounted in said trougnla iiotable to a nut receiving position when distransferring table, a dumptrou engaged from the last named paddle. cated between the first namtroug and 13. A nut cracking machine com rising the transferring table,means for imparting a base, an o erating means carried y said a step bystep movement to the conveyor base, an inclined nut supporting tablecarried to move nuts one at a time from the hopper 115 by said base, ahopper carried by said base, into the dumping trough, means actuated 'bya pivotally mounted transferiin table the operating means to tilt thedumping carried by said base and norm y distrough to deposit a nuttherefrom onto the osed in a plane above the nut suptransferring table,and means actuated 'in P porting table, tension means connected to astep by step movement from the operating 120 said transferring table fornormally holding means to move a nut from the transferring the latter ina nut receivingpostion, means table onto the nut support table and toactuated by the operating means to move eject a cracked nut from theatter.

nuts one at a time from the hopper to the 17. A uut cracking machmecomprismg 6o transferring table, a feed wheel journaled to base, anoperating means carried b said 125 the base, means for impartin a stepby step buse, n nut support-ing table on sind ase, a movement to thefeed whee from the op` hopper, a transferring table carried by saiderating means, iiexible paddles carried by buse. a dumping trougharranged between said feed wheel and relatively spaced, one of thehopper and the transferring table, tensaid paddles adapted to eject acracked nut sion means normally supporting the dumpiso ing trough in anut positiommeans the nut on the transferring tableonto the a0 actuatedby the operating means to place nut supporting teblessnd to eject acracked nuts one at e time in the dumping trough nut from the nutsupporting table. A

from the hopper,l meansnctuated by the oper- 19. A nut cracking machinecomprising Ae. ating means to tilt the dumping trough to base, operatingmeans carried b said bese, deposit` the nuttherein onto the trunsferanut sup orting table on said byase5 hun. 8'6 ring table and adapted toVpermit the dumpper carrie by said base, n transferring tab e ing troughto return to its initial position carried by said bese,'a dum ing tro hbeefte'r de iting the nut onto the transfertween said ho er lend.l t etren e ring 'tab e, means actuated'by the operating table, meansyactuated by the .f operating v means to move, the nut from-thetransfermeans'to feed nuts one ate time fromthe 40 rin table onto thenut-supporting table hopper to the trough, a controlling. wheel an toeject a cracked nut' from the latter. actuated in the ho per during 'theoperation 18. A nut cracking machine comprising a of the last nennemeans to prevent nuts base,.operatingmeans-carriedh said base, ompassing more thannoneratatime i'nto a nut-sup orting table onsaid ase, ahothe dumping. troughmeans actuated. by the 45 per carried by said bese,a transferring tab e operating means ,to tilt the dum ing trough carriedby said fbase, a trough'erran'ged'in to deposit the nut therein onto 4tetrensfer- Comunication with the hopper, a dumping ringtab1e,' meansactuated b the operating troughA between the first named hopper andmeans to move the nuton t e transfe ythe transferring table, meansfonmovin table -onto the nut supporting' table and 50 4mitsoiieeta'til'nef'r'om the firstlnamed troug eject the cracked nut from the nutsupportinto the dumpingtroughymeans for preino table. ,t t ventin g.thenuts 'within r the hop er -from n testimony whereof I affix my signaturecrowding intov the dumping'troug means in presence of two witnees.

`iwtuat'ed bythe operating means to tilt the HENRY E. PAOLUCtiI. i

dumping trou h to permit the nut therein Witnesses: 'to :fall 'onto t etransferring table, means L. W. GoonwiN, actuated by the operating meansto move E. E. GoonwlN.

